A fire reported early Wednesday near Stony Creek in Orland forced evacuations for residents for about two hours.

Information from the Willows Fire Department reported the Creek Fire began around 12:50 a.m. growing to about 50 acres by 2:18 a.m.

The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office issued the evacuation at 2 a.m. for the area around Stony Creek, including Shady Oaks Mobile Home Park and areas near Highway 99, County Road 7, County Road 10 and County Road M, according to a new release from Glenn County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office announced it planned to open the Orland Memorial Hall as an evacuation center, but canceled that plan as well as evacuations at 3:50 a.m., allowing residents to return home.

Berry Creek arrest

Butte County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man this month suspected of being in an armed fight near the 400 block of Milsap Bar Road in Berry Creek, according to a news release Wednesday by the office.

Deputies arrested Chuebee Moua, 56, of Oroville, after a fight around 2:43 p.m. July 10, according to the release. Moua reportedly brandished a gun and and threatening to shoot two people who were cleaning a property on Milsap Bar Road.

Moua allegedly drove away after the incident, but investigators found his car shortly after the incident based on a witness description, according to the release. Deputies conducted a traffic stop and arrested Muoa without incident near Oroville-Quincy Highway and Arid Circle. A search of his car allegedly found a semi-automatic pistol and high-capacity magazines.

Moua was booked into the Butte County Jail on suspicion of criminal threats, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon.

Energy provider

The nonprofit electricity provider Pioneer Community Energy announced Wednesday it will begin its expansion into communities, including in Butte and Glenn counties, with a service launch date set for October 2027.

The announcement comes after the California Public Utilities Commission certified the nonprofit’s plan June 11 to implement the community energy choice in 13 communities which include Chico, Oroville, Paradise, Orland, Willows, Live Oak, Yuba City, Sonora and unincorporated Butte, Glenn, Nevada, Sutter and Tuolumne counties.

The Chico City Council voted to join Pioneer Community Energy in January, and the Oroville City Council voted to join in October 2024.